History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 143

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 143
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ADDISON NEWTON OSGOOD.

For three generations the Osgood family have been prominent in the manufacturing, business and social circles of Pembroke and Allenstown, finding a sphere for activity and a home in the village of Sun- cook.

The family is of English descent, the ancestor having cast in his lot with the Puritans of the Mas- sachusetts Bay colony some time in the seventeenth century. One of the forefathers followed up the valley of the Merrimack with the company who set- tled at Penacook and laid the foundations of the fair city which later was to become the capital of the State. Many of his descendants may be found to-day in Concord and adjoining townships, while one branch sought a home in North Conway and adjacent towns, in the State of Maine.

Some time before the year 1800, Christopher Os- good and his wife, Annie (Abbott) Osgood, from Concord, settled in the village, and he soon became one of the leading men in Pembroke.

One of their sons, Ira B. Osgood, married Alice

Prescott, settled in town and maintained the reputa- tion for business activity established by the father.

Addison N. Osgood, in the third generation, the son of Ira B. and Alice (Prescott) Osgood, was born in Allenstown March 16, 1836.

His education was acquired at the common schools of the village and at Pembroke Academy. In early manhood he left home, and for several years was em- ployed in Boston and vicinity. In 1860, Mr. Osgood returned to his native village, formed a partnership with James Tennant, which continued until Mr. Tennant's death, in 1873, and settled down to the re- sponsibilities of a business career. For twenty-five years Mr. Osgood has enjoyed the confidence and re- spect of his fellow-townsmen, which has been mani- fested by their frequent calls upon him to "manage the affairs of the township" and represent them at the General Court.

He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1869, 1870 and 1871; representative in 1878 and 1879; a supervisor in 1879; chairman of the Board of Supervisors from 1880 until the spring of 1885, when he was elected chairman of the Board of Se- lectmen.

Mr. Osgood is an advocate of the advantages of secret societies. He was a charter member of the D. L. Jewell Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Suncook, and is a member of the Mount Horeb Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He is a member of the fraternity known as the Knights of Pythias and is prominent in Odd-Fellow circles.

In creed, Mr. Osgood is a Methodist and is a mem- ber and regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Suncook.

He was married, December 17, 1865, to Mary Emma, daughter of William A. and Julia (Upham) Phelps, once of Haverhill, N. H., and later of Ames- bury, Mass., and Suncook, N. H. No children have blessed their home.

Mr. Osgood is still in active business (wood and lumber), and is interested in every public enterprise cal- culated to beautify and improve the village of his choice. He is a builder and owner of comfortable homes for workingmen. He is the owner of a farm of some thirty acres and a desirable house on Glass Street, near his mill.

Mr. Osgood enjoys to an eminent degree the respect of his fellow-citizens. He is considered upright and honorable in every relation of life, and by honest la- bor is accumulating a comfortable fortune to secure his old age from want.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM FIFE.

We are able to trace the ancestors of this family on the maternal side back to Joseph Holt, who was horn in the north of England March 5, 1738. He married Elizabeth Widdrington, who was born in the north of England May 25, 1739. They were mar-

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ried in 1760, and emigrated to this country, stopping in one of the seaport towns for a few years, then came to New Hampshire. On the paternal side we can trace the ancestors back to William Fife, who was born in the north of Scotland May 16, 1746; he married Phebe White, born in 1745. Mr. Fife emi- grated to this country in 1768, and they were married after coming here, in 1772, and settled in North Pem- broke, on a lot of land bought of James Bartlett, who lived on Pembroke Street at the time. They built a log house and bought a tract of land adjoin- ing the one already purchased. They built a new frame house, and about the time it was finished while the carpenters were at supper, it was de- stroyed by fire. Mr. Fife, not being easily dis- couraged, built a two-story frame house upon the same place, which is standing yet. The only children of Joseph and Elizabeth Hoyt of whom we have any account were Nathan, born December 2 1762, and married Sarah Black, born February 1, 1762, and settled on a farm in North Pembroke. Abigail, the only member of their family mentioned in this sketch, was born February 1, 1777. Jeremiah Fife, son of William and Phebe, was born December 5, 1779, married Abigail Holt, November 20, 1803, and settled in the north part of Pembroke, where they lived for about fifty years. He was a carpenter and builder by trade, and he died February 22, 1852. They had ten children,-Thursay, born March 15, 1805, married Benjamiu Hagget ; Nathan H., born December 6, 1807, married Abbie Brooks, and died December 19, 1839 ; Sarah, born November, 1809, married Samuel Worth; Abigail, born March 18, 1811, married John Hagget, and died December 28, 1861; Jeremiah, born August 10, 1813, died Novem- ber 1, 1845 ; James, born May 16, 1816, died July 22, 1817; William, born April 20, 1821; Rhuhamah, born December 8, 1824, died May 21, 1854; Noah, born July 15, 1827, married Mary Wilson ; Elcy, born February 9, 1830, married John Spurlin. Cap- tain William Fife, the principal subject of this sketch, lived with his father upon the farm until he was nineteen years of age. He then began working at the carpenter business, which he has continued since. He is a successful contractor and builder ; during the last few years has been engaged in farming. He was made captain in the Eleventh Regiment New Hampshire State Militia in 1847. which office he held for two years.

. He built a house on Pembroke Street in 1840, using a part of the old James Bartlet tavern, which was built more than one hundred years ago. Captain Wil- liam Fife married Mary D., daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Dudley) Gault, October 19, 1843. She was born February 25, 1820, and died August 14, 1875, and they had the following children : Helen A., born May 24, 18-13, married Joseph J. Rand, who was born October 12, 1844 (they were married May 28, 1874, and settled in Rye, N. H .; they have one child,

Mary A., born June 29, 1875); William W., born July 15, 1848, married Louisa H. Blake (she was born February 27, 1840, married March 4, 1871, settled in North Pembroke, and they had four children,- Henry W., born November 28, 1871 ; Frank D., born March 12, 1874; Horace E., born June 24, 1880; Sarah A., born April 29, 1882); Edwin H., born January 16, 1851, married Lizzie Alden, April 28, 1885, and settled in Springfield, Mass .; Sarah F., born December 23, 1853 and died July 14, 1880.

MCCONNEL MOORE.

Rev. Daniel Mitchell, born in the north of Ireland in 1697, is the first person on the maternal side of this family of whom we have any knowledge. Upon ar- riving in this country, he was licensed to preach by the Boston Presbytery, and first entered the pulpit in Georgetown, Me .; December 3, 1760, he was or- dained over the Presbyterian Church at Pembroke,. N. H .; was the first minister of that denomination in the place. He married Martha White, and to them were born two children,-Ruhamah and Martha. On the paternal side we are able to trace the line of ancestry back to Deacon James Moore, born in the north of Ireland. Before leaving his native country he married Agnes Coolbrath, and in 1713 or '14, upon their arrival in this country, they went directly to Concord, Mass., remaining one year ; from there they went to Londonderry, N. H., but not liking the out- look, went to Pennacook, (now Concord), N. H .; his next move was to Suncook (now Pembroke), where he bought a tract of land, paying about four hundred dollars. They found upon their arrival but one white family in this town. Mr. Moore built the first frame house there, and during the French and Indian War it was used for a garrison. A part of the same house is now owned by Samuel E. Moore, one of the descendants. Deacon James died March 11, 1773.

Robert, son of Deacon James, married Ruhamah, daughter of Daniel and Martha (White) Mitchell, and they had ten children. Major Daniel Mitchell Moore, son of Robert and Ruhamah, and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pembroke April 25, 1777. He married Sally , McConnel, April 9, 1809, and died December 29, 1848. They had four children, viz .: McConnel, Samuel E., Sally C. and Betsey T. McConnel, the subject of this sketch, was born in this town October 10, 1809, and spent his life upon the farm. He was educated at Pembroke Academy. December 20, 1837, he married Sarah J., daughter of John and Judith (Blake) Sanborn, of Loudon, N. H. Mr. Moore was a Whig in his earlier days, but voted the Democratic ticket later in life. He has never held any office, not having any aspira- tions in that direction. He was a member of the Congregational Church for nearly fifty years, and always a supporter of church and schools. He was a kind friend and neighbor. McConnel Moore died

Addison Allagood

Me Connel More

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PEMBROKE.

in this town December 12, 1878, leaving his wife with ample means for support in her old age.

AARON WHITTEMORE.

The Whittemore family originated with Sir John, who was knighted on the battle-field for valorous conduct in the year 1230, and received a tract of land called " Whytemere," or White Meadow, whence he received the title Lord John de Whytemere.

Thomas Whittemore emigrated to this country in the year 1642, and settled in that part of Charlestown now known as Malden. He died in 1660. His son John, who came over with his father, was born in Kitchen Parish, Hertfordshire, England, February 1, 1638; was baptized February 11th of the same year. He married, first, Mary Upham, of Weymouth, who dicd June 27, 1677 ; he married, second, Mary Miller, in October, 1677. Children,-Thomas, born 1664; Joseph, born 1666; Benjamin, born 1669; Na- thaniel, born 1673; Joel, born 1677; Mary, born 1678, died young; Pelatiah, born 1680; Amos, born 1681 ; Mary, born 1683; Daniel, born 1685; Rebecca, born 1687; Hannah, born 1689.

Benjamin Whittemore, son of John and Mary (Upham) Whittemore, was born in Cambridge, Mass., September 1, 1669; married Esther Brooks, August 17, 1692 ; settled in Concord, Mass., and died Septem- ber 8, 1734; his wife died September 16, 1742. Children of Benjamin and Esther (Brooks) Whitte- more,-Mary, born July 12, 1694; Benjamin, born April 9, 1696, died at the age of thirty-nine, was a representative from Concord six years; Nathaniel, born November 23, 1698; Grace, born March 20, 1700; Esther, born May 3, 1707; Aaron, born Decem- ber 11, 1711.

Rev. Aaron Whittemore, third son of Benjamin and Esther (Brooks) Whittemore, was born in Con- cord, Mass., December, 1711; graduated at Har- vard College in 1734; resided three years at Groton, Mass .; was settled over the Congregational Church in Suncook, or Lovell's township (now Pembroke), as the first minister, March 1, 1737. During the French and Indian Wars his house, which stood just south of the cemetery on Pembroke Street, was a garrison- house, and he held the commission of first lieutenant from the provincial authorities of New Hampshire, and was in command of the post. The house forms a part of the present residence of Mrs. Vose. He married, February 2, 1743, Abigail Coffin, of New- bury, Mass., whom he met while visiting her relatives in Rumford. He died November 16, 1767. His wife, born November 18, 1718, died May 11, 1803. Children,-John, born 1744, died January 20, 1746; Aaron, born April 9, 1746, married Sarah Gilman ; Judith, born November 6, 1748, died February 13, 1755; Benjamin, born December 4, 1750, married Abigail Abbot ; Esther, born August 12, 1752, mar- ried, first, Jeremiah Hall, married, second, Rev. Jos-

eph Woodman ; Sarah, born May 18, 1754, died June 15, 1759 ; Ruth, born April 12, 1756, married Deacon David Kimball; Peter, born April 7, 1758, married, February 25, 1783, Elizabeth Baker, settled in Salis- bury, N. H.

Aaron Whittemore, son of Rev. Aaron Whittemore, born April 9, 1746 ; married, January 11, 1770, Sarah, daughter of Peter Gilman, of Exeter. She was born October 27, 1745, died October 14, 1823; he died May 1, 1817. Settled on his father's farm, served honorably through one campaign during the Revolu- tion, and was prominent in town affairs for many years.

Children of Aaron and Sarah (Gilman) Whitte- more,-child, born October 21, 1770, died young; Judith, born November 5, 1771, married, November 14, 1793, James Baker, of Bow ; John. born October 14, 1772, died October 30, 1772; child, born October 23, 1773, died young; Aaron, born November 28, 1774, married Lydia Fisk, of Derry ; Richard, born January 16, 1776, married Nancy Brickett; Sarah, born September 16, 1777, married, November 15, 1796, Jesse Baker, settled in Shipton, P. Q .; Abigail, born November 17, 1781, died unmarried May 29, 1861; Peter, born January 6, 1783, a physician, mar- ried, went West; Polly, born April 16, 1785, died February 25, 1788.

Hon. Aaron Whittemore, son of Aaron aud Sarah (Gilman) Whittemore, grandson of Rev. Aaron Whittemore, was born November 28, 1774; married, October 23, 1800, Lydia Fisk, of Derry, born Febru- ary 28, 1776, died March 9, 1862. He settled on the farm and built the house now occupied by his son, Hon. Aaron Whittemore. He was representative, Senator and judge. Died April 26, 1850, at the age of seventy-six. Children of Aaron and Lydia (Fisk) Whittemore,-Benjamin, born March 20, 1801, died in Philadelphia in 1833 ; Louisa, born September 21, 1802, married, September 23, 1847, Charles P. Hay- ward (residence, Pembroke, N. H.); Mary F., born August 13, 1804, married, May 15, 1820, Daniel Par- ker (residence, San Francisco, Cal.); Adaline, born September 28, 1806, died December 28, 1821; Aaron, born November 4, 1808, married Ariannah S. Barstow, of Exeter; Hiram, born March 31, 1811, married, first, November 26, 1828, Elizabeth J. Hoit, of Exe- ter, married, second, August 27, 1856, Alma M. Pug- alls; Lydia, born June 28, 1813, unmarried ; Sarah, born November 24, 1815, married Jacob Sawyer, died September 9, 1845; Dolly D., born February 13, 1819, married David H. Burnham, died April 18, 1843.

Hon. Aaron Whittemorc, son of Hon. Aaron Whittemore, grandson of Aaron Whittcmore, and great-grandson of Rev. Aaron Whittemore, was born November 4, 1808; married, December 13, 1840, Ari- annah S. Barstow (born in Exeter February 20, 1821); settled in Pembroke ou his father's farm. He gained his education at the academy, principally under the

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

instruction of Hon. John Vose. He taught school successfully for several years in Pembroke and other towns.

He has been elected at various times to the most important offices in the gift of the people of the town, and held the offices of moderator, selectman and town treasurer for several years in succession.

He represented the town two years in the State Legislature, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1850, and also of 1876. He was ap- pointed postmaster at Pembroke in 1829, and held the office for about sixteen years. He was interested in the establishment of the People's Literary Insti- tute and Gymnasium of Pembroke, in 1840, and was chosen the first secretary of its board of directors, and afterwards served for several years as its president. He was elected one of the trustees of this academy in 1863, and at the same time their secretary, and has held said office to the present time.

He was connected with the militia of the State for some years; was appointed ensign of the Second Company of infantry in the Eleventh Regiment June 14, 1828; promoted lieutenant September 6, 1832; captain April 29, 1833; lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh Regiment June, 27, 1839, and colonel of the same July 6, 1846. He was promoted brigadier- general of the Third Brigade June 4, 1851.

He represented his native town in the Legislature in 1849 and 1850, and also was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1850.

He was appointed associate justice of the Court of Common Pleas for Merrimack County July 1, 1853. General Whittemore is a successful farmer upon the homestead of his father and grandfather. He was also, for a number of years, a member of the Merrimack Connty Agricultural Society, of which he served as president. Mr. Whittemore is one of the oldest aud most highly respected citizens of the town, looked to by all classes as a wise, most prudent and confiding counselor. From the fore-

going sketch it will be seen it has pleased his fellow- men to place the utmost confidence in him, and to confer upon him all the honors they could bestow, which is too apparent a token of their esteem to pass unnoticed. The influence and benefit of such a citizen is not easily estimated.

Children of Aaron and Ariannah (Barstow) Whitte- more,-Sophia F., born August 1, 1842; married, June 2, 1861, Charles C. Shaw. Ariannah B., horn April 23, 1844; married, April 5, 1870, John H. Sulli- van. Aaron, born May 22, 1846; died April 3, 1849. Aaron born January 18, 1849; married; lawyer in Pittsfield. Adaline G., horn October 13, 1850 ; married, February 2, 1870, John G. Tallant; died October 11, 1875. John Cambridge, born Angust 8, 1852; married; residence, Cambridge, Mass. Charles Barstow, born September 28, 1854; married; residence, Pembroke, N. H. Arthur Gilman, born July 26, 1856; lawyer; residence, Dover, N. H. Frederick B., born Septem- ber 12, 1857; residence, Kansas. Annie Brewster, born April 15, 1859. Elizabeth M. (Bessie), born February 21, 1861.

Hon. Aaron Whittemore, Jr., who died in Pittsfield May 4, 1885, at the age of thirty-six years, was the oldest son of General Aaron Whittemore, of Pem- broke, and in many respects one of the representative men of his State, being a lawyer of extensive practice, a State Senator, judge advocate on the brigade staff with the rank of major, and continually laboring for the best interests of the town, of the surrounding communities of his own immediate neighborhood and all his fellow-men.

As a lawyer and military officer, as well as a prom- inent member of the Democratic party, he was a man of marked influence, while in private life he was honored for his nobility of character and uprightness. Although he has fallen in the midst of his usefulness, in the full vigor of a still brighter future, yet he accomplished much, and his death is greatly lamented.

Mullemore Aaron Aaron Millemore

HISTORY OF PITTSFIELD.

CHAPTER I.

Geographical-The First Settlement-Esquire John Cram-The Pioneer Mills-The First Frame House-The First Town-Meeting-Namee of Pioneers-Pittsfield Village in 1812.

THE town of Pittsfield lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows :

On the northeast by Belknap County; northwest by Loudon and Chichester, and on the south by Ep- som.

One hundred and seventeen years ago (1768) a solitary traveler came wending his way through the wilderness, up the valley of the Suncook, to the spot where now stands the flourishing village of Pittsfield. This solitary traveler was Esquire John Cram, who came as a representative of the original proprietors of the town, most of whom resided in Hampton. They were anxious that the grant should be developed, and they were wise, as the sequel proved, in selecting Johu Cram as the pioneer. He examined the mill priv- ileges at the falls, and finally agreed with the pro- prietors to commence a settlement on the receipt of fifteen pounds and a deed of the mill privilege with the mill lot of one hundred acres.

In the following year he came up and built a tem- porary dam across the Suncook, by felling a large tree on each side of the river, the butts resting on the stumps, and the tops meeting on the ledge in the mid- dle of the river, and by setting posts against the trunks of these trees, and throwing in brush, stones and gravel, a rude dam was constructed. He then built a log mill, and by means of this rude dam and rickety mill, timber and plank were sawed, with which buildings were erected and a substantial dam built, and in the following year he removed his family to the place, and to him is ascribed the honor of having made the first permanent settlement within the bounds of the present town of Pittsfield.

The proprietors were indeed fortunate in selecting Esquire Cram to commence the settlement. He not only brought the land into market, but proved a most excellent citizen. He took an active interest in the new settlement, and for nearly forty years he was in public office, and did most of the town business and fairly earned the appellation of "father of the town." He was a native of Hampton. In addition to the mill privilege, he bought eleven hundred acres of land for ten cents per acre, which included most of the present village. He built the first frame house in the

town in 1770. In all local enterprises he was a lead- ing spirit. He gave the land for the meeting-house and burying-ground.

"Cram's Mill" was a common centre and resort for the early settlers to talk over the affairs of the country, the town, the laying out of roads and the building of bridges.

The first town-meetings were held at his house, and here, also, the first settlers would gather on foot, com- ing along blazed paths through the woods from their little clearings, dressed in their sheep's gray frocks and brown tow trousers, to elect officers and take such measures as would result in the promotion of the best interests of the town. Religious meetings were also held at his house, or in his corn barn. Here, also, the first religious society in the town was organized and a public school occasionally kept.

At the breaking out of the War of the Revolution he was chosen captain, and every man in town was a member of his company. With a large family, and fifty years of age, it was not expected of him to go in- to the army, but during the long seven years' war he, with John McClary, of Epsom, rendered efficient ser- vice in furnishing men and means for the prosecution of the war. His large family of childreu all settled near him. During his forty years of service as town clerk, selectman, representative, etc., he made no charge for his services, only expenses.

The early settlers were all from Hampton, and most of the names in each town are common to both, as Drake, Leavitt, Cram, Green, Norris, Dow, Jones, Marston, Gove, Greenleaf, Perkins, Tilton, Lane, Jenness, Swett, Ring, Sargent, Shaw, Tucker, Fogg, Eaton, Hilliard, French, Philbrick, Towle, Brown, Blake, Knowlton, Smith, Davis, Sanborn, Clifford, Page, Gar- land, Mason, Hoag, Moulton, Chase, Brackett, True, Morrill, Prescott, etc.

The rich soil, favorable location and heavy growth of timber induced rapid emigration. The early set- tlers were young men of pluck and strength, who came up to hew peaceful homes and fruitful farms from the wilderness, and provide a competence for their families by honest toil and rigid economy. They were lineal descendants of the colony of Puri- tans who settled at "Old Newbury." They were of the same stock that Cromwell chose for his Ironsides, "who feared God and kept their powder dry," and possessed the same leading traits of character.

Pittsfield Village in 1812 .- In 1812 the centre of

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

the town was not called the village, but "the city," which consisted of the meeting-house and four or five dwellings. Dr. Thomas Shannon lived in the "Lang house," opposite the meeting-house. Mr. T. Clark lived at the corner of the road east. W. Butters, Esq., lived a few rods west of this ancient building. A store was kept by Esquire Butters in one part of his dwelling, and another store was kept by Jonathan Clark in the west end of the next house,-the tavern and residence of D. Fogg, subsequently known as the " Carroll house." Opposite was a small tenement. The next dwelling in a westerly direction was that of John Cram, with a large mill-yard between his house and the river, and the saw-mill and grist- mill near the bridge. Turning the corner and cross- ing the bridge on the Concord road, two small dwell- ings were passed, the first known as the Hilliard honse, the other as the David Smith house. This was the last house till the top of the long hill was reached, and there was the house of old Mr. Prescott, aud near by, that of his son, S. W. Prescott. On the Gilmanton road was a blacksmith-shop, and the high ledge overlooking the mill-dam, an old fulling-mill on its opposite corner, a carding-mill close by, and then Lyford's tannery filled up the space to the river.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 143

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520